Kenneth Allen Hammon

Ken was born in Stanton, Nebraska. When he was a year old, as dust and depression covered the land, his parents packed up their Hupmobile and moved out West. They settled in the small logging community of Detroit, Oregon where the great outdoors was playground for Ken and his pals. The five years Ken spent in Detroit are among his fondest childhood memories. Another is the summer he spent on his uncle's farm near Lynch, Nebraska, learning to ride a horse, pick corn and feed the animals. At the other end of childhood, Ken's High School years in Yakima, Washington provided great store of happy memories. Reminiscing about these times was a great source of comfort to him. Persistence beat poverty as he made his own way through higher education. Ken's cash flow problems were eased as he spent eight summer seasons and a few winters working construction in Alaska, Idaho and Washington. In 1960 he graduated from Linfield College. It was at Linfield that he met Carmelita, his wife of 56 years. He went on to earn a DMD from the University of Oregon School of Dentistry. At the urging of good friends Ken escaped the Northwest fog and rain by relocating to Colorado where he put down roots. Raising his family in one place was important to him. He found a church home at Calvary. He enjoyed his private dental practice here for 42 years. Here he established a wide circle cherished friends. Ken is survived by his wife, Carmelita; his daughter and son-in-law, Nina and Mike Hammon Jahn; his son and daughter-in-law, Mike & Tracy Hammon; three grandsons, Harry and Jack Hammon Jahn and Reese Hammon; by his sister, and brother-in-law, Nancy and Van Templeton, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; and by a large and caring extended family. Ken loved fishing and golf, he loved watching birds, bugs and animals; he loved the sunrise and the sunset; he loved ice cream, cherry pie and Nina's peanut brittle. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his integrity and his steadfast devotion to family and friends. He will be missed by all who knew him.